Bangladesh VS South Africa: 1st Test – Day 2 Recap And Analysis. The first Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa in the South Africa tour of Bangladesh 2024 took an intriguing turn on Day 2 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. South Africa, riding on a stellar century from wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and strong bowling by Kagiso Rabada, ended the day in a commanding position. Bangladesh, though shaken early, showed resilience as they ended the day trailing by 101 runs with seven wickets in hand, thanks to a determined partnership between Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Kyle Verreynne Masterclass Leads South Africa
South Africa’s first innings saw them being bowled out for 308, a solid response to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 106. The day began with South Africa resuming at 140/6, and the partnership between Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder laid the foundation for their total.
Verreynne’s knock of 114 off 144 balls, featuring eight boundaries and two sixes, was a masterclass in patience and shot selection. His innings marked his second Test century, and it was particularly special as he became only the third South African wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Asia. His ability to handle Bangladesh’s spinners, especially Taijul Islam, who had been Bangladesh’s standout bowler with figures of 5-122, was key in propelling South Africa to a formidable total.
Mulder also played a crucial supporting role with a composed 54 from 112 deliveries, marking his maiden Test fifty. Together, they added 119 runs for the seventh wicket, dragging South Africa out of a precarious situation.
South Africa Innings Breakdown
South Africa’s innings can be divided into three significant phases:
| Partnership/Key Moment | Contribution | Fall of Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Collapse | South Africa struggled early on Day 1, losing their first 6 wickets for just 140 runs. | Markram (0), Stubbs (50), Bedingham (72), de Zorzi (99), Breetzke (99), Rickelton (108) |
| Verreynne & Mulder Partnership | A game-changing 119-run stand between Verreynne and Mulder took South Africa from 140-6 to 227-7. | Mulder (54) and Maharaj (0) in quick succession |
| Tailenders Contribution | Verreynne and Dane Piedt added 66 runs for the ninth wicket. Piedt scored a gritty 32 to support Verreynne’s ton. | Piedt (32), Verreynne (114) stumped |
Kagiso Rabada Fiery Spell
The excitement did not end with the bat, as Kagiso Rabada delivered a brilliant opening spell with the ball in Bangladesh’s second innings. Rabada, who reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets on Day 1, struck early, dismissing Shadman Islam for 1 and Mominul Haque for a duck. His pace and ability to extract bounce from the Dhaka pitch left Bangladesh reeling at 4-2 in the third over, sending a strong message that South Africa was not going to ease off despite their batting heroics.
Keshav Maharaj also chipped in, dismissing Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw for 23, leaving Bangladesh’s top order in tatters. The hosts, facing a significant deficit, looked in danger of folding quickly.
Bangladesh Fightback
However, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured that there was no further damage before stumps. Joy, who top-scored for Bangladesh in the first innings with 27, was resolute once again, remaining unbeaten on 38 from 79 balls. Mushfiqur, a veteran of many battles, played a quickfire 31 off 26 deliveries, striking a few well-timed boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The pair added 42 runs for the fourth wicket, ensuring that Bangladesh ended the day at 101-3 in their second innings, trailing South Africa by 101 runs. Despite the early damage caused by Rabada, the partnership between Joy and Rahim provided Bangladesh a glimmer of hope as they look to avoid an innings defeat.
Bangladesh Bowling Effort
In terms of Bangladesh’s bowling, Taijul Islam was once again the standout performer. The left-arm spinner bowled tirelessly, picking up 5-122 from 36 overs. He was the key to restricting South Africa to 308, despite the Verreynne-Mulder partnership. Hasan Mahmud also made a significant contribution, taking 3-66, including the key wickets of Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj in consecutive deliveries, providing some hope for Bangladesh in the midst of South Africa’s recovery.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with two wickets, including the crucial scalp of Kyle Verreynne, who was stumped attempting to accelerate the score in the latter stages of South Africa’s innings.
Bangladesh Innings Breakdown
Bangladesh’s batting in both innings has been underwhelming, with their top-order struggling against South Africa’s pace and spin.
| Innings | Key Events | Fall of Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| First Innings | Bangladesh was bowled out for 106 in just 40.1 overs, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy top-scoring with 27. South Africa’s Rabada and Maharaj caused havoc, sharing 7 wickets between them. | Shadman (6), Mominul (13), Najmul (21), Mushfiqur (40), Litton (45), Mehidy (60), Hasan (76), Jaker (76), Nayeem (102), Taijul (106) |
| Second Innings | Bangladesh ended Day 2 at 101/3 after Rabada’s early double-strike. Mahmudul Hasan Joy (38*) and Mushfiqur Rahim (31*) are tasked with leading the recovery. | Shadman (4), Mominul (4), Najmul (59) |
Bangladesh vs South Africa Day 2 Key Stats
- Kyle Verreynne scored his second Test century (114 off 144 balls), marking a stellar performance under pressure.
- Wiaan Mulder scored his maiden Test fifty, adding 119 runs with Verreynne to help South Africa reach 308.
- Kagiso Rabada took two wickets in quick succession to leave Bangladesh at 4-2 early in their second innings.
- Mahmudul Hasan Joy (38*) and Mushfiqur Rahim (31*) formed a key unbeaten partnership of 42 runs to steer Bangladesh to 101-3 at stumps.
Verreynne Century: A Game-Changer
Verreynne’s innings was not only a personal milestone but also a crucial turning point for South Africa. His 114-run knock helped his side recover from 108-6 to a first-innings total of 308, giving them a significant lead of 202 runs.
Verreynne’s ability to manage both pace and spin made the difference. He was particularly effective against Bangladesh’s spinners, using the sweep and reverse sweep to score consistently. His ability to rotate the strike and put away bad deliveries took the pressure off his partners, allowing South Africa to post a competitive score.
His partnerships with Wiaan Mulder and later with Dane Piedt showcased his resilience and ability to bat with the lower order, which proved vital in extending South Africa’s lead.
Match Summary:
| Team | First Innings | Second Innings | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 308 all out | — | Lead by 202 runs |
| Bangladesh | 106 all out | 101/3 | Trailing by 101 runs |
Conclusion
As Day 2 comes to a close, South Africa finds itself in a dominant position in this 1st Test against Bangladesh. With a 101-run lead still intact and Bangladesh three wickets down in their second innings, the Proteas have the upper hand going into Day 3. The focus will now shift to how Bangladesh’s middle-order, led by Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim, handles South Africa’s potent bowling attack.
